“Lands, Alistair!” Keith, the one who appeared to be his second-in-command from the previous day’s interactions, said. “Are we relieved tae find ye!”
“When you did not come back after bounding after the girl, we decided to head into the forest and find ye,” the one that looked a little older than Alistair said. “But then the storm came and there was nae much that could be done. We had tae wait it out and then come and look fer ye. We combed this forest like we were searching fer gold!”
The other men snickered, and Alistair expressed his gratitude. One of the warriors looked past Alistair and saw Jane. The mirth on his face died, and every other warrior seemed now to be looking at her, too. She held her head up high. She was an Englishwoman, and Englishwomen did not cower under any circumstances.
“We found this one merrily making its way tae the castle without its master,” another of the men said, dragging the reins of another horse forward. It was Alistair’s black beast.
Alistair made a clicking sound, and the horse immediately bounded towards him. Without a word to her, he carried her, placed her atop it, and mounted it, one hand on the reins and the other on her waist. He clicked again, and the horse began to trot. The other warriors waited for him to lead the way and then followed.
Respected warrior,Jane mused, a little miffed at how cavalierly he had handled her, andyet he cannot teach his horse not to abandon him.
* * *
Jane had no idea what to expect of a Scottish castle.
As they approached Alistair’s, she could not help but think that it looked quite… regal. A thick, high wall went round about it. Beyond that, there was a moat that seemed to go on forever. She saw the effects of the storm on the moat: it seemed as though it had been stirred. After that, they rode through a courtyard that stretched as far as the eyes could see. It ended in a gatehouse which they rode under. The gatehouse gave way to a smaller courtyard. This one was better manicured than the first and was smaller in dimension. The castle itself was looming and dark, nothing like any building she had ever seen in England. People were milling around the courtyard, and Jane noticed that they stopped to bow to Alistair.
He had tied her hands again at some point in the journey, while still in control of the horse, and now she noticed that people were looking at her with curiosity. She must be a distressing sight, with soiled clothes that had dried but not straightened. She had no idea how her hair looked, but she was sure that it could not be good.
They came to the steps that led up the castle. In one smooth movement, Alistair dismounted. He then carried her down. His men dismounted as well. A woman appeared at the stairs that led to the castle. She had ginger hair and brown eyes. When her gaze caught Jane’s, she arched her brow. Alistair motioned to her.
And for a moment Jane feared that she had had immoral thoughts about a married man. From the looks of things, this woman was the hostess at the castle. If Alistair was the laird, then no doubt she was his wife. Alistair motioned to her, and she came forward. “Catrina, this is Jane Marsh. Please, find her a room next to mine.”
“Yes, me laird,” she said, and turned to Jane. If she was scandalized by her appearance, she hid it well. “Welcome,” she said.
Alistair sighed. “I have done it again, haven’t I?”
His men erupted in laughter. “Aye, ye have,” his second-in-command said. Catrina smiled.
“Catrina, please kiss yer husband as much as you want and then find our guest a room, please.”
“He doesnae appreciate kissing, me laird,” the woman - Catrina - said, and she went to one of the men’s sides. He grabbed her by the waist and made to plant kisses on her face, but she squealed and stepped out of his reach. “’Tis all fer show. The only thing on his mind is a hot meal.”
“But I am looking at a hot meal,” the man said. His comrades erupted in laughter and Catrina stared at them all in mock disapproval. “Dinnae let our guest think we are uncouth barbarians,” she said, and motioned to the said guest to follow her.
“Nobody gives a blasted hell what she thinks,” one of the men said, and Jane heard Alistair admonish him sharply as she and Catrina entered the castle. The ceilings were higher than they were at the Marsh house. The furniture looked like it was made for a picture, and not for use. Catrina introduced herself and Jane tore her gaze away from the chairs to say, “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Catrina. I am Jane Marsh. How do you do?”
“Oh, an English lass in truth!” Catrina exclaimed.
“Yes, Catrina,” Alistair said. Jane turned to see that he had followed them inside.
“I saw ye lookin’ at me in surprise just then,” Alistair said, “when I asked Catrina tae prepare a room fer ye.”
“Well, yes,” Jane said.
“Did ye expect a cell?” Alistair said, a grin on his face.
“Actually,” Jane said, squaring her chin, “yes.”
“I would never dae that tae a proper lady,” Alistair said, “but if that is what ye prefer, it can be arranged.”
A child’s laughter rent the air, and Jane tuned to see a boy rush to Alistair’s side. Alistair tousled his hair. A spark of recognition lit up in Jane’s head. “I know you,” she said, referring to the boy. “I saw you on horseback. I was in my carriage. I knew that I did not merely imagine you.” Then understanding hit her. “It was you who told your clan where I was.”
“Me lady, I am sorry that me son’s… observation led tae-”
“There is naething tae be sorry fer, Catrina,” her husband said sharply. Jane turned to see that almost all the warriors were inside now. “Our son did right by his clan!” And with that, he walked away.
Jane wondered how a sweet woman like this could be married to such a brute. Throughout their journey, he had looked at her with nothing but hostility, and just now he had spoken with hostility as well.
